little help with kids at camp

[rebal69972]

well mod season is coming up quick. I'm taking my 10 y/o daughter and 12 y/o son for there first elk hunt this year. i have our spot picked and scouted. i even have some firewood piled up where I'm planing on camping at. i was wondering if any of you that had done something like this  would share some experience with me. this is only my second year hunting here in WA and I'm a bow hunter. is there anythings that might make the trip alittle easier, anything i should know. we have all the normal hunting and camping gear, warm cloths, rain gear.  I'm just wanting the trip to go good for them, being there first and November being wet and colder i want to have everything ready so they have fun and we can spend the time together instead of running to town or the time being spent with them being miserable.

[ICEMAN]

Sure!
 
Yeah, they will be miserable if cold or wet etc....so have lots of changes for them.
 
Let them help with meal planning and snack picking at the store.
 
Let them bring a few things from home.
 
Get them involved around the camp helping with the chores.
 
My kids are in charge of water from the creek, fires, setting up the tents etc... I help them if they need it, but they are used to the camp out thing. I just asked my 13 yr old daughter and she confirms. First thing out of her mouth was she liked the FOOD!  Frypan cinnamon rolls, etc....
 
 

[gasman]

try to keep them involved in some way. Kids get bored easily when they are not involved and when they are not seeing an animal or keeping busy, thye will want to call it a day.



On a side note. please dont be disappointed if your camping spot is taken or firewood is gone.
 

[WapitiChaser]

Great Advice Iceman.   I took 3 teens scouting this weekend and would add let em bring an ipod or other gadget and have a means to charge it.  (of course they stay in camp

Make one of them the "camp photographer"  and you'll be sure to have some great shots and keep em occupied. 

One last thing...DO be prepared to run 'em home if weather gets too bad or they just can't take it.  It's great to share the experience but you will have a lot invested to just bag it and go home as a family.   My two cents.   

Good luck this year and hope your camp is still there

[bloodhound]

my biggest problem as a kid was the time right before bed when there's nothing to do. game boys, psp's, or any hand held gaming devises are great. portable dvd player if you got one. or cards, board games, or cribbage type stuff if your kids are into that kind of thing. and dont be afraid to spend a day doing a little road hunting if the weather is bad. i would be awake for the morning and fall asleep while pops drove around. allowed him to scout some areas out and i got a day to stay warm and dry. dont be afraid to ask them what they want to do so they can feel like there part of it and not just doing what you want to do. heck they may impress you with there answers.

[sebek556]

the hardest thing for me when I have the kids in camp is, I want to push to hard in the hunt and really have to watch that I do not burn them out the first day in the woods. Now that my knees are shot its not as much of a issue, if your taking them in the woods as well as camp let them set the pace. the other ideas posted here are spot on as well, give them something to do, and some fun stuff for down time. also photos my kids love to tell their friends we did this and show off photos of it.

[ICEMAN]

Lots of great info here. The camp photographer, taking it easier on them, dvd movie at night-especially if you are not afforded nice weather where you can sit them around the campfire....
 
Don't forget the smores, and the jiffy pop!  My kids also really like that hobo sandwhich maker for the fire...
 
My kids also bring the homework...

[rebal69972]

thanks guys. i hadn't even thought about down time or really any of the rest of whats been mentioned. my daughter does like the camp photograph thing she packed her cam just after i read that. i have taken them scouting with me and i let 1 of them lead I'm used to moving pretty quick. where i thought of having my camp I'm not all that worried about someone being at, its pretty far off the beaten path and the fire wood if someone got it i hope the needed it and it kept them warm, if i wanted to keep it, i should have brought it home, it would be nice for it to be there but to leave a big pile of wood out in the woods u have to expect it to be used

[runningboard]

1 thing I do, probably most parents do, is I get up early & have it warm inside the tent. my little girl was all excited in Idaho a couple years ago 'cause of all the elk we saw @ dusk & she even told me, "make sure I get up, I wanna go after a bull tomorrow." well because it was too cold in the morning she wouldn't get up & was big-time disappointed when her brother got into elk that morning. only saving grace was that her brother missed!
all good suggestions, my little girl was our photographer in Africa. at first I was annoyed at her taking pictures of EVERYTHING but afterwards was grateful 'cause it helps to remember & explain this or that with a photo. with digital all you need is another card & presto! 100s or even 1000s more pictures.
I use gameboys & the like for keeping 'em quiet on stand but in camp prefer cards, yahtzee or other games where they have to interact with others.
bring a smaller axe, they even call 'em "boy's axe" for them to help with camp chores without endangering themselves.
good luck all & thanks for all the good replies to this thread, helps me too!

[baldopepper]

Kids in camp is great, but some things you have to remember.  Keep an eye on them-sometimes in the excitement of the hunt kids can wander off-make sure they have basic survival instructions (my father always gave us a medicine bottle of matches and instructions that if you are "lost"  or think you are lost-sit down and start a fire-DO NOT KEEP WALKING)
Watch your guns- at home guns and ammo are often sperate-hunting- guns and ammo are often together-gun saftey is paramount when kids are around.  Keep a good first aid kit-gathering wood etc often leads to minor injuries for the kids- be prepared.  Many of my fondest memories as a kid are sitting around a good campfire listening to all the old hunting stories and just seeing my father let his guard down a bit from the day to day fathering responsibilities.  We always took a long a good "flipper" (sling shot) and spent hours shooting cans and chasing squirrels -no game boys or Ipods then and we had a great outdoor experience.  I'm sure you'll have a great time and create some great memories for your kids!!

[TheHunt]

Great ideas... 

The sling shot (AKA Wrist Rocket) with marbles is what I used when my son could not carry a weapon.  He had his pockets full of marbles and when we saw something he would let it go.  He could sling the marbles so you need to keep plenty of those around. 

The warm and dry is the most important in my mind.  If they get cold and wet it is game over...

[Fullabull]

Great suggestions on this post!

Other thoughts:
A metal whistle for each of the kids with directions to stay in one place if lost and use the whistle!
Marshmellows, Hershey's, and Graham crackers
When kids are hunting with you, getting game is just a thought not a priority. Make it an adventure for them and they will remember it as fun, not a chore!
Safety, Safety, Safety...They all wear hunter orange whether hunting or not. It will also make them feel more a part of what you are doing
Hand and feet warmers!!!
They will want to ask questions when you want them to be quiet talk in whispers to them and they will do the same back.
Patients, Patients and more Patients...

They will have a great time and want to go again if it is fun and adventurous.

It's great that you are taking them with you. Good luck and enjoy the experience!

Fulla

[Rick]

When kids are hunting with you, getting game is just a thought not a priority. Make it an adventure for them and they will remember it as fun, not a chore!

I've been taking my 10yr old son with us since he was 4. He comes up on Thursday and goes home on Sunday. My "real" hunt doesn't begin until Monday morning.

Thursday through Sunday its about him. If he gets cold 15 minutes into the hunt we head back to the truck and warm up. If he wants to stop and shoot a pinecone with his pellet rifle,we stop and shoot pinecones. If he wants to poke at a pile of bear shiat with a stick,we stop and poke bear shiat.

Spending quality time with my son is FAR more important than killing a deer or elk.

[grizzlyadams]

Lots of dry cloths, heated tent and full bellies...